It's been a week since my injury. Well, ten days since the onset, but a week since I really started feeling pain after running seven miles. I tried to run for 15 minutes last night. It hurt. I couldn't keep running.
The sports injury doctor's diagnosis - Piriformis Syndrome. AKA A Pain in the Bum. Basically my piriformis muscle is swelling and compressing my sciatic nerves and causing all sorts of issues.
I don't really have much else to say. Looks like both the marathon and the 50 miler are both out, despite all the training I put in through the winter. If I can't run a mile now without pain, I don't think I'm going to be able to do 26.2 in seven days.
This stinks.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
You've got to be kidding me.
10 weeks of training, down. 5 weeks at 70 miles. I'm finally at my "racing weight", so to speak. I ordered my green glitter sparkle skirt and shamrock leggings. I. am. ready.
And then, during the taper week -- yes, my first week of REDUCED MILEAGE -- race disaster strikes.
I finished up my final high mileage week with a 10 mile race, done on a hilly course and untapered legs, and set a little PR (by less than a minute.) The course took a lot out of me though, and so I did very very easy runs Monday and Tuesday. I had a sports massage Tuesday evening, and ran for the next time on Wednesday night. On Thursday morning I decided to try some tempo intervals, but I couldn't get my pace where I wanted to, so figuring I was still recovering, I finished up nice and easy. I felt fine. I changed my clothes and headed to a meeting. When I stood up from the meeting, I couldn't walk.
Seriously. Pain in my right hip, glute, and groin. I was visibly limping all day. I iced, took a long bath, and started to worry. But the next day I only felt a little tightness, and no pain, so I took the day off from running and figured I could run an easy 3 miles before deciding to do my long run on Saturday.
I felt fine after 3 miles at about an 8:20-30 pace, so we headed off for another 14. By 5 miles into the run, I could feel the pain return. I made the decision to turn around. When I finally quit at 7, I was hobbling.
Sunday I was stopped at church by two people who asked what was wrong and why I was limping. Today (Monday) I am still walking with a bit of a hobble, though better than yesterday. I had an appointment with the chiropractor today and he used the stem machine on the sore spots -- all connected to my left hip. No exercise -- no swimming, biking or elliptical even -- until this weekend. If I can do some cross training without pain, we can try some easy running miles. Maybe.
And I'm supposed to run a marathon in 13 days.
I'm a little mad at the universe right now.
However... I must say that this would be a whole different story had I not gotten a BQ back in December. Though I've trained hard for this race, and I might go a little crazy if I have to take significant time off of running, I still have Boston in April 2014 to look forward to. If I have to wear my green sparkle skirt as a spectator cheering on my husband, it is what it is.
And then, during the taper week -- yes, my first week of REDUCED MILEAGE -- race disaster strikes.
I finished up my final high mileage week with a 10 mile race, done on a hilly course and untapered legs, and set a little PR (by less than a minute.) The course took a lot out of me though, and so I did very very easy runs Monday and Tuesday. I had a sports massage Tuesday evening, and ran for the next time on Wednesday night. On Thursday morning I decided to try some tempo intervals, but I couldn't get my pace where I wanted to, so figuring I was still recovering, I finished up nice and easy. I felt fine. I changed my clothes and headed to a meeting. When I stood up from the meeting, I couldn't walk.
Seriously. Pain in my right hip, glute, and groin. I was visibly limping all day. I iced, took a long bath, and started to worry. But the next day I only felt a little tightness, and no pain, so I took the day off from running and figured I could run an easy 3 miles before deciding to do my long run on Saturday.
I felt fine after 3 miles at about an 8:20-30 pace, so we headed off for another 14. By 5 miles into the run, I could feel the pain return. I made the decision to turn around. When I finally quit at 7, I was hobbling.
Sunday I was stopped at church by two people who asked what was wrong and why I was limping. Today (Monday) I am still walking with a bit of a hobble, though better than yesterday. I had an appointment with the chiropractor today and he used the stem machine on the sore spots -- all connected to my left hip. No exercise -- no swimming, biking or elliptical even -- until this weekend. If I can do some cross training without pain, we can try some easy running miles. Maybe.
And I'm supposed to run a marathon in 13 days.
I'm a little mad at the universe right now.
However... I must say that this would be a whole different story had I not gotten a BQ back in December. Though I've trained hard for this race, and I might go a little crazy if I have to take significant time off of running, I still have Boston in April 2014 to look forward to. If I have to wear my green sparkle skirt as a spectator cheering on my husband, it is what it is.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
You might have an endurance running problem, Gretchen.
It's President's Day weekend and, as for the past three years, my husband is in New York City with his middle school choir for their annual trip. We were supposed to go along with him this year, but Jack got sick so we are home. I crammed most of my miles into M-F so that we could go away this weekend, and I had 71 accumulated by yesterday at 11 a.m. I don't need to run today. And between church and a birthday party, there was no way I could make it to the gym while the childcare was open, and it is way too cold for the baby jogger... so I really can't run today. But yet... I want to.
Gretchen, you have a running problem. Really. You do.
I know a lot of people who have running addictions, or triathlon addictions, but most of them don't have two kids and a full time job. Most of them are single, or DINKs (Double-Income-No-Kids.) So what is my deal? I have been a "runner" since 2005 or so, when I discovered that it cured my winter blues, gave me an outlet for all my stress at work, had this great side effect of eliminating excess body fat, and made me a generally happier person. I made some of my best friends out on the roads and trails. I wasn't fast. But I ran consistently and completed 7 marathons before Jack was born.
And then, after Jack's birth, I discovered how to train properly, and I started to get faster. Not elite. But I discovered I had some potential. And thus, the addiction was born. I'm 34. These are going to be my running years. This is when I'm going to see my best race times.
You know you might have an endurance running problem if:
- You choose your daughter's ballet classes based on it's proximity to jogging stroller friendly terrain and think "Okay, 45 minutes will give me 4-5 miles depending on if I have my son with me or not. That means I only have to run 9 miles in the morning, so I can sleep in until 5:15."
- You take off work to be home with your miserably sick 20 month old son, and rather than having him nap in the crib and using that time to, say, do laundry, you stick in him the jogging stroller and run for three hours straight. (In my defense, he wanted to be outside. It was 60 degrees. He loves sunshine. He was not having it in the crib. And he slept the entire three hours.)
- Speaking of laundry, you haven't put it away for two weeks because you go to bed at the same time as your kids instead of getting some peaceful housework done after 9 p.m., possibly because you got up at 4:45am to run 15 miles before work on Tuesday.
-Speaking of clothes, you might own more race shirts than work shirts. A lot more.
- You use doggy potty breaks and grocery store excursions as an excuse to get in 3-4 miles in the evenings because "The dogs need to pee!" and "We need granola bars!"
- You are in the fourth week of five at peak mileage, training for a marathon, and tell people "I don't think I'm going to do a fall marathon - this is too much training." And then you start contemplating a fall Ironman instead.
- And then the next day you sign up for a 50 mile trail ultra.
My name is Gretchen, and I am a Runaholic.
Gretchen, you have a running problem. Really. You do.
I know a lot of people who have running addictions, or triathlon addictions, but most of them don't have two kids and a full time job. Most of them are single, or DINKs (Double-Income-No-Kids.) So what is my deal? I have been a "runner" since 2005 or so, when I discovered that it cured my winter blues, gave me an outlet for all my stress at work, had this great side effect of eliminating excess body fat, and made me a generally happier person. I made some of my best friends out on the roads and trails. I wasn't fast. But I ran consistently and completed 7 marathons before Jack was born.
And then, after Jack's birth, I discovered how to train properly, and I started to get faster. Not elite. But I discovered I had some potential. And thus, the addiction was born. I'm 34. These are going to be my running years. This is when I'm going to see my best race times.
You know you might have an endurance running problem if:
- You choose your daughter's ballet classes based on it's proximity to jogging stroller friendly terrain and think "Okay, 45 minutes will give me 4-5 miles depending on if I have my son with me or not. That means I only have to run 9 miles in the morning, so I can sleep in until 5:15."
- You take off work to be home with your miserably sick 20 month old son, and rather than having him nap in the crib and using that time to, say, do laundry, you stick in him the jogging stroller and run for three hours straight. (In my defense, he wanted to be outside. It was 60 degrees. He loves sunshine. He was not having it in the crib. And he slept the entire three hours.)
- Speaking of laundry, you haven't put it away for two weeks because you go to bed at the same time as your kids instead of getting some peaceful housework done after 9 p.m., possibly because you got up at 4:45am to run 15 miles before work on Tuesday.
-Speaking of clothes, you might own more race shirts than work shirts. A lot more.
- You use doggy potty breaks and grocery store excursions as an excuse to get in 3-4 miles in the evenings because "The dogs need to pee!" and "We need granola bars!"
- You are in the fourth week of five at peak mileage, training for a marathon, and tell people "I don't think I'm going to do a fall marathon - this is too much training." And then you start contemplating a fall Ironman instead.
- And then the next day you sign up for a 50 mile trail ultra.
My name is Gretchen, and I am a Runaholic.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Race Report - Langley "Not-An-8K"
Another tune up race for Jamie and me. So no taper -- I did a 15 mile midweek long run on Tuesday, speed training on Wednesday, and already had 47 miles in my legs this week before stepping up to the start. I guess that is why it's called a "tune up" race.
We arrived at the start and it was COLD.... my iPhone said 14 degrees at 9:30am. We did a 10 minute warm up, and I finished with a few strides on the track, threw our gear in the car, and arrived at the timing mat right at 10. And we were off.
The first mile wasn't bad. Pretty flat in fact. I glanced down at my Garmin and it clicked off at 6:55. Then I saw a MONSTER hill. And it was pretty much like that the rest of the course. Up up up, down down down. Lots and lots of hills with pretty steep grades. I should have known with much of the course being on "Balls Hill Road."
I hit 3 miles at just over 22 minutes and thought to myself "Hey, I don't feel too bad and there are only two miles to go!" I saw Jamie heading the other direction and he looked like he was doing pretty well. 4 miles clicked off, and I started to push it, even on the uphills.
At 4.5 miles my phone rang. I looked at the number -- it was our babysitter, Poliana. It was a little after 10:30, so I knew that she should have just arrived to Susanna's swim class. Aurgh! I had less than a half mile to go -- I figured less than 4 minutes, and Jamie was probably done already. If it was a big issue I'm sure she could call him. I ignored it and kept running.
4.9 miles came and I was pretty sure I was nowhere near Langley High School. I hadn't even gotten back on Georgetown Pike, and I was sure we'd ran quite a distance on that road before turning into the smaller neighborhoods. 5 miles came.... then 5.3.... what was going on? I had paced this thing for 5 miles and I was running out of energy. I finally turned onto the main road and saw the school -- pretty far off in the distance. Had I read the race entry wrong? Was this a 10K? I pushed it as best I could and finally turned into the school's front lot. There were runners going in two different directions - some behind the school and some in front. I asked the guy behind me which way we were supposed to go and he threw up his hands in obvious frustration. Well, since my GPS already said 5.8 miles I decided to just go the shortest route. And then someone said to the photographer at the timing mat "That woman is going to cross the wrong direction." Which I did. Because there was no way I was turning around and running the other way. The guy behind me did the same thing.
I stopped my watch. 5.86 is not 4.97. Everyone around me was getting about 5.92 (so even though I went long, I still cut the course by going in front rather than behind the school.) Then this man (maybe the race director? I am not sure....) says to me "Why didn't you go around the school? You were supposed to come back the way you went out." I looked at him and I said "There were no volunteers telling us where to go. I couldn't remember which way I ran at the beginning. And I thought this was an 8K, but I did almost 6 miles." I'm not sure what was going on with him -- maybe a bunch of runners had already complained? He retorts "If you went the wrong way, you didn't know the course. You are supposed to know the course before you run it." Seriously? I was just following people.
So apparently what happened was that the first (fastest) runners made the correct turn and actually ran an 8K, and then the guy in fourth place went left instead of right around the 5K and EVERYONE followed. Was this man really telling me that I should have "known the course" and gone the opposite direction of every other runner? And really, it's not like I often run a race with a map in my hand. So I did an extra .9 miles -- fine -- I'm okay with that. Just don't get annoyed with me like I did something wrong.
6th place Overall Female, 3rd in the 30-40 Age Group. All the girls went the wrong way.
I called Poliana back and found out Susanna was refusing to get in the water at the pool. Phew. No emergency. It's always hard to know what to do when you get a phone call from your babysitter during a race...
And for the record I hit 5 miles at 36:40. Which still is a little over the pace I was hoping for, but considering the hills, not too bad. And considering a little over a year ago my 5 mile Turkey Trot was 40:53, well hey, that's progress. Except the race results are going to say that I did it in 43:16. I might have to block this one from Athlinks....
We arrived at the start and it was COLD.... my iPhone said 14 degrees at 9:30am. We did a 10 minute warm up, and I finished with a few strides on the track, threw our gear in the car, and arrived at the timing mat right at 10. And we were off.
The first mile wasn't bad. Pretty flat in fact. I glanced down at my Garmin and it clicked off at 6:55. Then I saw a MONSTER hill. And it was pretty much like that the rest of the course. Up up up, down down down. Lots and lots of hills with pretty steep grades. I should have known with much of the course being on "Balls Hill Road."
I hit 3 miles at just over 22 minutes and thought to myself "Hey, I don't feel too bad and there are only two miles to go!" I saw Jamie heading the other direction and he looked like he was doing pretty well. 4 miles clicked off, and I started to push it, even on the uphills.
At 4.5 miles my phone rang. I looked at the number -- it was our babysitter, Poliana. It was a little after 10:30, so I knew that she should have just arrived to Susanna's swim class. Aurgh! I had less than a half mile to go -- I figured less than 4 minutes, and Jamie was probably done already. If it was a big issue I'm sure she could call him. I ignored it and kept running.
4.9 miles came and I was pretty sure I was nowhere near Langley High School. I hadn't even gotten back on Georgetown Pike, and I was sure we'd ran quite a distance on that road before turning into the smaller neighborhoods. 5 miles came.... then 5.3.... what was going on? I had paced this thing for 5 miles and I was running out of energy. I finally turned onto the main road and saw the school -- pretty far off in the distance. Had I read the race entry wrong? Was this a 10K? I pushed it as best I could and finally turned into the school's front lot. There were runners going in two different directions - some behind the school and some in front. I asked the guy behind me which way we were supposed to go and he threw up his hands in obvious frustration. Well, since my GPS already said 5.8 miles I decided to just go the shortest route. And then someone said to the photographer at the timing mat "That woman is going to cross the wrong direction." Which I did. Because there was no way I was turning around and running the other way. The guy behind me did the same thing.
I stopped my watch. 5.86 is not 4.97. Everyone around me was getting about 5.92 (so even though I went long, I still cut the course by going in front rather than behind the school.) Then this man (maybe the race director? I am not sure....) says to me "Why didn't you go around the school? You were supposed to come back the way you went out." I looked at him and I said "There were no volunteers telling us where to go. I couldn't remember which way I ran at the beginning. And I thought this was an 8K, but I did almost 6 miles." I'm not sure what was going on with him -- maybe a bunch of runners had already complained? He retorts "If you went the wrong way, you didn't know the course. You are supposed to know the course before you run it." Seriously? I was just following people.
So apparently what happened was that the first (fastest) runners made the correct turn and actually ran an 8K, and then the guy in fourth place went left instead of right around the 5K and EVERYONE followed. Was this man really telling me that I should have "known the course" and gone the opposite direction of every other runner? And really, it's not like I often run a race with a map in my hand. So I did an extra .9 miles -- fine -- I'm okay with that. Just don't get annoyed with me like I did something wrong.
6th place Overall Female, 3rd in the 30-40 Age Group. All the girls went the wrong way.
I called Poliana back and found out Susanna was refusing to get in the water at the pool. Phew. No emergency. It's always hard to know what to do when you get a phone call from your babysitter during a race...
And for the record I hit 5 miles at 36:40. Which still is a little over the pace I was hoping for, but considering the hills, not too bad. And considering a little over a year ago my 5 mile Turkey Trot was 40:53, well hey, that's progress. Except the race results are going to say that I did it in 43:16. I might have to block this one from Athlinks....
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Race Report: JFK 20K
This was another race I wasn't sure was going to happen. Apparently half the population of the USA has come down with a stomach bug, including our original babysitter, and my entire family. Back up to last weekend, a kid projectile vomited on Susanna when we were at Chuck E. Cheese. Two days later Jamie got the bug, and on Thursday afternoon both kids got it. It was short lived -- 12 hours, really. For me, even less. After calling the 5 people we normally use for babysitting, then another 10 people they suggested, I was about to give up, when someone recommended using Care.com. I put a desperate plea on there at noon, and by 3 p.m. I had 15 available babysitters. How had I not heard of this before? I found a lovely young lady with two years of au pair experience, and the kids loved her.
Last year when I did this race, my chronotag malfunctioned but I think I finished in around 1:44. It was snowing like crazy and I was wearing YakTrax. This year the race had ideal conditions, with a dry trail and a starting temperature of 43 degrees. Jamie and I did a warm up mile, stripped down to shorts and t-shirts, and headed for the start.
I pressed "start" on my Garmin and nothing happened. It said "Searching." AURGH! I took off at what seemed like a 7:35 pace (that was my goal) and hoped for the best. After what seemed like quite awhile I saw a sign that said 2.5. Ah. Wait a second. It said 2.5K. Not miles. What? Seriously? Because I felt like I'd been running quite a ways -- we were only, like, an eighth into the race? This was not good. I glanced down at my watch and it still said "Searching."
I noticed I'd been running with men the entire time and hadn't seen a woman anywhere near me. I think there may have been a couple ahead of me, but I had a sinking sensation I'd gone out way, way too fast. Because I was already feeling like I was getting tired.
Finally my Garmin found the signal. I glanced down and it said 22 minutes, but of course no distance. Then I looked ahead and saw the 5K marker. Oops. My fastest 5K is 21:47. I still had 15K to go. This was not a good sign.
I slowed the pace down and tried to keep it at 7:35 to the turnaround. As I slowed down, I got passed by three ladies. Fine. Because there is no way I was going to be able to finish that race going at whatever ridiculous pace I started.
I was so tired. We hadn't passed any of the fasties on the out-and-back, so I knew I wasn't even halfway done. My legs were screaming at me. Finally I saw the speedy men bolting towards us. Jamie was maybe a minute into that pack of runners, so it was nice to see him although he was so focused on running he barely gave me a wave.
Finally the turnaround, which mentally I needed because I felt like I literally had been running forever. I crossed it at 46 minutes flat.
The next couple of miles were right on that 7:35 pace. And then we hit the climb. Yup, I remembered why I hated this course last year. It has a gradual downhill on the way out, and uphill on the way back, but the last two and a half miles are definitely the toughest. Not enough of an incline to call it a hill, but apparently enough to completely destroy my already exhausted legs.
I pretty much gave up at this point. People were passing me left and right. My Garmin was registering a pace between 8:00 - 8:30. Blah. Meh. Whatever. I just wanted this race to be over.
Finally, the finish line. Jamie was waiting for me and looked like he'd been waiting for awhile. I booked it when I saw him and crossed the finish line in under 1:36, but just barely. Which means I didn't even hit the pace of my last half marathon.
Jamie had a good day though -- he finished in about 1:25:30, which was under his 7 minute/ mile goal. And, my day wasn't terrible. Just not where I wanted it.
We got home, and I did the sloggiest four miles ever to get in my "17 mile long run" prescribed in the marathon plan for today. Then I made Ghiradelli Chocolate Shakes for everyone. Which were seriously amazing. Best recovery drink ever.
Last year when I did this race, my chronotag malfunctioned but I think I finished in around 1:44. It was snowing like crazy and I was wearing YakTrax. This year the race had ideal conditions, with a dry trail and a starting temperature of 43 degrees. Jamie and I did a warm up mile, stripped down to shorts and t-shirts, and headed for the start.
I pressed "start" on my Garmin and nothing happened. It said "Searching." AURGH! I took off at what seemed like a 7:35 pace (that was my goal) and hoped for the best. After what seemed like quite awhile I saw a sign that said 2.5. Ah. Wait a second. It said 2.5K. Not miles. What? Seriously? Because I felt like I'd been running quite a ways -- we were only, like, an eighth into the race? This was not good. I glanced down at my watch and it still said "Searching."
I noticed I'd been running with men the entire time and hadn't seen a woman anywhere near me. I think there may have been a couple ahead of me, but I had a sinking sensation I'd gone out way, way too fast. Because I was already feeling like I was getting tired.
Finally my Garmin found the signal. I glanced down and it said 22 minutes, but of course no distance. Then I looked ahead and saw the 5K marker. Oops. My fastest 5K is 21:47. I still had 15K to go. This was not a good sign.
I slowed the pace down and tried to keep it at 7:35 to the turnaround. As I slowed down, I got passed by three ladies. Fine. Because there is no way I was going to be able to finish that race going at whatever ridiculous pace I started.
I was so tired. We hadn't passed any of the fasties on the out-and-back, so I knew I wasn't even halfway done. My legs were screaming at me. Finally I saw the speedy men bolting towards us. Jamie was maybe a minute into that pack of runners, so it was nice to see him although he was so focused on running he barely gave me a wave.
Finally the turnaround, which mentally I needed because I felt like I literally had been running forever. I crossed it at 46 minutes flat.
The next couple of miles were right on that 7:35 pace. And then we hit the climb. Yup, I remembered why I hated this course last year. It has a gradual downhill on the way out, and uphill on the way back, but the last two and a half miles are definitely the toughest. Not enough of an incline to call it a hill, but apparently enough to completely destroy my already exhausted legs.
I pretty much gave up at this point. People were passing me left and right. My Garmin was registering a pace between 8:00 - 8:30. Blah. Meh. Whatever. I just wanted this race to be over.
Finally, the finish line. Jamie was waiting for me and looked like he'd been waiting for awhile. I booked it when I saw him and crossed the finish line in under 1:36, but just barely. Which means I didn't even hit the pace of my last half marathon.
Jamie had a good day though -- he finished in about 1:25:30, which was under his 7 minute/ mile goal. And, my day wasn't terrible. Just not where I wanted it.
We got home, and I did the sloggiest four miles ever to get in my "17 mile long run" prescribed in the marathon plan for today. Then I made Ghiradelli Chocolate Shakes for everyone. Which were seriously amazing. Best recovery drink ever.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Dude Where's My Car?
No really. Where is it?
Someone stole it this afternoon. From our driveway. While my husband was in the kitchen. Which is directly in line of vision of the car.
I'm now afraid to go running.
I feel so violated. I have spent countless mornings leaving my house at 4:30 a.m. so I can run before work and still have the evenings to spend with my kiddos. My neighborhood is in a busy area with well-lit streets and folks walking to the metro at quarter to five, so I haven't really ever felt unsafe. Until now.
Someone literally stole the car right in front of our house while we were visible from the bay window. Someone was looking in our window.
I have a 17 miler planned tomorrow, and I have a work event at 8:30. Some of the Moms Run This Town ladies are doing a group run at 6, so I planned to start at 5 by myself. I'm not going to. I'll do the 10 I can fit in, and then I'll do a treadmill/ jogging stroller combo tomorrow in broad daylight before I have to be BACK at the work event at noon, since Jamie will have the only car we currently have possession of.
A life lived in fear is a life half lived.. that was my motto. I always said, what are the chances that anything will happen to you on your runs in the morning?
But what are the chances of someone stealing your car in your driveway while you're standing in your kitchen bay window?
(... on another note... I am still hopeful this is just some crazy misunderstanding. A mistaken repossession? The car has been paid off for two years, so unlikely... perhaps someone called to have a car towed from their spot and the towers got the wrong car? It's been reported to police for 5 hours now, and still no car, so still unlikely, BUT maybe in the morning we'll get good news...)
Someone stole it this afternoon. From our driveway. While my husband was in the kitchen. Which is directly in line of vision of the car.
I'm now afraid to go running.
I feel so violated. I have spent countless mornings leaving my house at 4:30 a.m. so I can run before work and still have the evenings to spend with my kiddos. My neighborhood is in a busy area with well-lit streets and folks walking to the metro at quarter to five, so I haven't really ever felt unsafe. Until now.
Someone literally stole the car right in front of our house while we were visible from the bay window. Someone was looking in our window.
I have a 17 miler planned tomorrow, and I have a work event at 8:30. Some of the Moms Run This Town ladies are doing a group run at 6, so I planned to start at 5 by myself. I'm not going to. I'll do the 10 I can fit in, and then I'll do a treadmill/ jogging stroller combo tomorrow in broad daylight before I have to be BACK at the work event at noon, since Jamie will have the only car we currently have possession of.
A life lived in fear is a life half lived.. that was my motto. I always said, what are the chances that anything will happen to you on your runs in the morning?
But what are the chances of someone stealing your car in your driveway while you're standing in your kitchen bay window?
(... on another note... I am still hopeful this is just some crazy misunderstanding. A mistaken repossession? The car has been paid off for two years, so unlikely... perhaps someone called to have a car towed from their spot and the towers got the wrong car? It's been reported to police for 5 hours now, and still no car, so still unlikely, BUT maybe in the morning we'll get good news...)
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012
Before my children were born, I ran mostly for the social aspect of it. I never did speedwork, I never did long runs without other people, and they were pretty much run-walk gossip sessions with my girlfriends. In 2010 I did get into triathlon (by default, after breaking my foot), and I enjoyed them, but my goal was always just "to finish."
Following Jack's birth, I was 40 pounds overweight and running slowly wasn't getting me anywhere in that department. I even trained for a sprint triathlon, which I completed when he was ten weeks old, but I hadn't lost a single pound since leaving the hospital. I started monitoring my diet and doing intervals, which I read were great for weight loss.
Apparently they were also good for improving my speed. A month later I went out for an easy 5 miler and was amazed to see that I, a former 10 minute miler, did it in 45 minutes. I started training for a half marathon with the goal of breaking 2 hours. I'd never really had any running time goals before, partly because I was afraid I wouldn't meet them. That Thanksgiving I raced a 5 miler in 40 minutes -- an 8 minute mile!?!? - and just before 2012 I met my time goal and broke the 2 hour barrier - by 9 minutes!
2012 was e a year of goal-setting, goals I set throughout the year.
Goal #1: Break 4 hours in the marathon.
Goal #2: Break 6 hours in a Half Ironman
Goal #3: Do an Ironman. No time goal. Just do it.
Goal #4: Win your age group in something.
Goal #5: Qualify for the Boston Marathon
Goal #6: Do an trail ultramarathon. No time goal. Just do it.
So... a lot of miles, a lot of early mornings, and a lot of hard work went into the past 365 days. In March I did a marathon in 3:54. In July I finished a Half Ironman in 5:34. In August I did an Ironman. In November I won my age group in a 5K and came in 2nd overall. In December I qualified for Boston with over 3 minutes to spare and two weeks later I ran my first trail ultra.
I ran 2039 miles.
I cycled 2069 miles.
I swam 101 miles.
Of all my goals, I am proudest of #5. You'd think it would be the Ironman, but it isn't. Why? Because I always knew I could do an Ironman if I put in the time to train. But I never, ever in my wildest dreams thought I could qualify for Boston. When they changed the qualifying standards from 3:40 to 3:35 around the time Jack was born, I just rolled my eyes and figured, hey, what's another 5 minutes when your best time is 48 minutes slower than a BQ -- why not make it 53? Even when I lined up at the start for the race, I didn't really think I could do it.
This year has changed me in so many good ways. Some might call it narcissistic, all the training I put in. However, I believe it makes me a better person all around. Conquering these goals has given me confidence I never knew I had. I have found my runner's high, and that makes me happier, and a much better parent/ wife/ teacher/ etc.
Goals for 2013? Let's see:
#1. Do a much better job of cleaning the house.
#2. Sleep more than 6 hours max per night.
#3. Cook healthier food and stop eating Clif Bars for breakfast.
#4. Limit Facebook to 4 times a day and stop leaving it on when cleaning the kitchen after dinner because then the kitchen never really gets clean.
#5. Clean out the closets.
Oh wait, fitness goals? I have some... not sure what they all are yet. I'l save them for another post. Til then...
Happy New Year -- May 2013 bring your good running, good times, good laughs and good company.
Following Jack's birth, I was 40 pounds overweight and running slowly wasn't getting me anywhere in that department. I even trained for a sprint triathlon, which I completed when he was ten weeks old, but I hadn't lost a single pound since leaving the hospital. I started monitoring my diet and doing intervals, which I read were great for weight loss.
Apparently they were also good for improving my speed. A month later I went out for an easy 5 miler and was amazed to see that I, a former 10 minute miler, did it in 45 minutes. I started training for a half marathon with the goal of breaking 2 hours. I'd never really had any running time goals before, partly because I was afraid I wouldn't meet them. That Thanksgiving I raced a 5 miler in 40 minutes -- an 8 minute mile!?!? - and just before 2012 I met my time goal and broke the 2 hour barrier - by 9 minutes!
2012 was e a year of goal-setting, goals I set throughout the year.
Goal #1: Break 4 hours in the marathon.
Goal #2: Break 6 hours in a Half Ironman
Goal #3: Do an Ironman. No time goal. Just do it.
Goal #4: Win your age group in something.
Goal #5: Qualify for the Boston Marathon
Goal #6: Do an trail ultramarathon. No time goal. Just do it.
So... a lot of miles, a lot of early mornings, and a lot of hard work went into the past 365 days. In March I did a marathon in 3:54. In July I finished a Half Ironman in 5:34. In August I did an Ironman. In November I won my age group in a 5K and came in 2nd overall. In December I qualified for Boston with over 3 minutes to spare and two weeks later I ran my first trail ultra.
I ran 2039 miles.
I cycled 2069 miles.
I swam 101 miles.
Of all my goals, I am proudest of #5. You'd think it would be the Ironman, but it isn't. Why? Because I always knew I could do an Ironman if I put in the time to train. But I never, ever in my wildest dreams thought I could qualify for Boston. When they changed the qualifying standards from 3:40 to 3:35 around the time Jack was born, I just rolled my eyes and figured, hey, what's another 5 minutes when your best time is 48 minutes slower than a BQ -- why not make it 53? Even when I lined up at the start for the race, I didn't really think I could do it.
This year has changed me in so many good ways. Some might call it narcissistic, all the training I put in. However, I believe it makes me a better person all around. Conquering these goals has given me confidence I never knew I had. I have found my runner's high, and that makes me happier, and a much better parent/ wife/ teacher/ etc.
Goals for 2013? Let's see:
#1. Do a much better job of cleaning the house.
#2. Sleep more than 6 hours max per night.
#3. Cook healthier food and stop eating Clif Bars for breakfast.
#4. Limit Facebook to 4 times a day and stop leaving it on when cleaning the kitchen after dinner because then the kitchen never really gets clean.
#5. Clean out the closets.
Oh wait, fitness goals? I have some... not sure what they all are yet. I'l save them for another post. Til then...
Happy New Year -- May 2013 bring your good running, good times, good laughs and good company.
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